Dallas Cowboys close to finalizing coaching staff after hiring Ken Amato

The Dallas Cowboys’ coaching staff is almost finalized.

The organization is bringing on Ken Amato as a defensive staff assistant, a source confirmed. The club is expected to finalize and announce the staff in the next few days.

Amato, who is Puerto Rican, worked with the Cowboys’ special teams last year through the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. He played in the NFL nine seasons as a long snapper with the Tennessee Titans (2003-11).

Amato takes over the position held by Turner West. West took a job at Austin Peay earlier this off-season.

Amato is the ninth coaching change to Jason Garrett’s staff this off-season.

Kellen Moore has replaced Wade Wilson as quarterbacks coach; Sanjay Lal has replaced Derek Dooley as wide receivers coach; Paul Alexander has replaced Frank Pollack as offensive line coach; Ben Bloom has replaced Matt Eberflus as linebackers coach; Kris Rishard has replaced Joe Baker as secondary coach; Keith O’Quinn has replaced Rich Bisaccia as special teams coordinator; Doug Colman has replaced O’Quinn as assistant special teams coach; and Doug Nussmeier has replaced Steve Loney as tight ends coach.

This story was originally published February 21, 2018 at 1:29 PM with the headline "Dallas Cowboys close to finalizing coaching staff after hiring Ken Amato."